Five Ways Impressionist Art Is Like a Disciplined Yogi
At first glance, you might wonder what on earth impressionist art has to do with a yogi’s disciplined practice. After all, one involves loose brushstrokes and blurry landscapes, and the other is all about mindful movement, breath control, and mastering poses that make you feel like you’ve accomplished something deep (or at least finally touched your toes).
But as an impressionistic artist and a yoga teacher, I’ve discovered that these two worlds are more connected than you think.
1. Impressionism Is All About Going with the Flow
When I pick up my paintbrush to create a scene—usually of a serene yogi practicing in a field with cows—it’s not about capturing every tiny detail. I’m not out here painting each blade of grass or making sure the cows look exactly like they do in real life (I mean, does Carole The Cow really need a perfectly photorealistic depiction?).
Impressionism is about capturing the essence of the moment. It’s about movement, light, and, most importantly, letting go of perfection.
Sound familiar? That’s yoga in a nutshell.
When you’re on the mat, you’re not aiming to hit the perfect pose or look like the cover of a yoga magazine. Instead, you’re focusing on how your body feels in the moment, not how it looks. Like impressionism, yoga is about flow, not rigid structure.
And just like my cows don’t need to have perfectly shaped udders in a painting, your warrior pose doesn’t need to look like a statue. It just needs to feel good.
2. Both Require Letting Go of Control
One of the best things about yoga is the way it teaches you to surrender. You can’t force your body into poses it’s not ready for—well, you can, but then you’ll spend the next few days groaning every time you sit down. Similarly, in impressionist art, you can’t control how every brushstroke will land.
Sometimes, the paint decides it’s going to create a tree branch where you didn’t plan one. Sometimes your downward dog turns into more of a downward “flop.” And you know what? That’s okay. The beauty of both yoga and impressionist art is in the surrender.
You let go, you breathe, and you accept what shows up—whether it’s a happy little cloud of color or an unintended wobble in your tree pose.
3. They’re Both More Fun in Nature
I mean, come on—if you had to choose between a fluorescent-lit studio or a sunlit field, wouldn’t you pick the field every time? Both yoga and impressionist art are inherently connected to nature. The original impressionists were known for painting en plein air (that’s fancy French for “outside”), capturing the changing light and natural beauty around them.
And what’s more yogic than practicing outside, connecting to the earth with each breath and movement? There’s something deeply grounding about doing yoga with grass under your feet and a breeze in your hair.
Painting in nature allows me to connect with my subjects (mostly cows, let’s be real) in a way that feels more alive, and practicing yoga in nature allows me to connect with myself in the same way.
4. You Can’t Rush Either One
Impressionist art might look quick and effortless—just a few flicks of the wrist, right? Wrong. Every brushstroke is intentional, even if it doesn’t look that way at first. You have to layer the paint, play with light, and know when to step back and say, “Okay, I’ve captured the feeling I was going for.” (Or when to step back and say, “Hmm, maybe I should stop painting cows for today.”)
Yoga, too, is a practice of patience. You can’t rush your way into flexibility or strength. You show up on the mat, day after day, building on what you’ve done before. Just like in impressionism, where the beauty comes from layering colors and textures, in yoga, the magic happens when you layer days of practice, slowly building toward a deeper connection with your body and mind.
In both art and yoga, the journey is the point—not the destination. And if that journey involves a few cows along the way, even better.
5. Both Help You See the World in a New Way
When you look at an impressionist painting, you’re not seeing a photograph—you’re seeing a moment captured through the artist’s eyes, a world made softer and more vibrant through color and light.
Yoga, in its own way, helps you see the world differently too.
After a good practice, you don’t just feel more relaxed—you start noticing little things you might have missed before: the sound of your breath, the way your body moves, the beauty in simply being present.
For me, creating impressionistic art of yogis in fields with cows is a way to bring that new perspective into visual form. It’s about finding joy in the everyday, whether it’s the sight of a cow curiously watching you practice or the way the sun hits a field at just the right angle.
George’s Conclusion
So there you have it—why impressionist art and disciplined yogis are more alike than you might have thought. Both are about flow, surrender, patience, and seeing the world with fresh eyes (and maybe a little humour). Whether I’m on the mat or holding a paintbrush, I’m always reminded that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s finding peace in the process, with all its messy, beautiful imperfection.
And, of course, don’t forget to love the cows.
